Abstract: A light fiber of directional side light extraction type capable of keeping the sectional shape as desired, reducing the undesirable light leakage to the outside through the light diffusive and reflective portion and extracting a highly directional and a highly bright light, and a process for manufacturing the same. Said object can be attained by co-extruding a resinous material only, and a material obtained by light scattering fine particles with a resinous material to disperse them therein so as to form a light diffusive and reflective film in a desired portion at least on the inner periphery of the clad.
Abstract: A high durability circular polarizer includes an unprotected K-type polarizer, such as a KE polarizer sheet, and a quarter-wavelength retarder. An optical system using the circular polarizer further includes an emissive display module such as an organic light emitting diode or a plasma display device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 15, 2003
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Giorgio Trapani, Richard Pawlak, Gene R. Carlson, James N. Gordon
Abstract: An optical system with improved color shift characteristics is described. Preferably, the system comprises a rear projection display that includes a light source providing light in first and second distinct polarization states, and a beaded screen.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 21, 2000
Date of Patent:
March 18, 2003
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Andrew J. Piepel, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Gary T. Boyd
Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to a display film and a method of making same, where the display uses electrically responsive, reflective particles disposed within a polymer matrix. The invention includes a method of making a display film having one or more monolayers of the reflective particles. The invention is also directed to a display having particles selected from a production distribution of particles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 2, 2000
Date of Patent:
February 18, 2003
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
David A. Engler, Brit G. Billingsley, William D. Miller, Richard John Pokorny
Abstract: A reflector for reflecting light from an elongate light source into the input end of a light guide having a diameter “D”. The light source is inserted through the narrow end of a collimating reflector which has a wide end with a diameter exceeding “D” through which light is emitted into the guide. The wide end of an output reflector circumferentially surrounds the collimating reflector's wide end. The output reflector's narrow end circumferentially surrounds the light guide's input end. The wide end of an input reflector circumferentially surrounds the collimating reflector's narrow end. The reflectors are cylindrically symmetrical about a common axis. Light passing from the light source to the collimating reflector is reflected, producing an output beam whose width varies as a function of distance along the axis. The light guide's input end is positioned along the axis to minimize the width of the output light beam.
Abstract: A rear projection screen including a plurality of refracting beads bound in optical contact with a substrate is disclosed. The beads are surrounded by an opaque matrix. A diffuser is positioned such that light traveling through the screen will pass through the diffuser after passing through the beads but before exiting the screen.
Abstract: To provide a side light extraction type light fiber capable of extracting light having high brightness at a viewing angle. Means for solving: a light fiber comprising: a core (1) in the center portion, and a cladding arranged around the core, characterized in that the cladding comprises: (i) a light diffusive layer (3) comprising a light diffusive portion made of a light diffusive material containing, as a binder, a polymer having a refractive index smaller than that of the core, which is provided in closely contact with the core in a wall thickness of 1 to 300 &mgr;m in a circumferential direction, and (ii) a protective layer (4) made of a light transmitting resin material, which is formed to integrate with the light diffusive layer and covers the light diffusive layer.
Abstract: Diffuse reflective materials proximate to a structure formed by thermally induced phase separation of a thermoplastic polymer and a diluent providing enhanced flexibility and reflectivity especially in the visible wavelengths of 380-730 nanometers are described. Such materials find a wide variety of application among combinations with other reflective layers. The diffuse reflective articles are useful in backlight units of liquid crystal displays, lights, copy machines, projection system displays, facsimile apparatus, electronic blackboards, diffuse white standards, photographic lights and the like.
Abstract: A method improves the respondability of moveable structures in a display medium, such as a gyricon display. The inventive method includes heating the display and exercising the rotatable structures within the display by an application of an electrical field. Applying heat to the display enlarges the cavity surrounding each particle due to thermal expansion of the cavity and the bead rotation cycling jostles the particles loose. The inventive method enables a larger percentage of the particles to rotate to a greater degree thereby improving resolution of an image. Alternatively, heating and exercising can be accomplished by application of ultrasonics. In addition, degassing the fluid contained in the display enhances switching with heat and improves the rotatability of the structures.
Abstract: A rear projection screen has one or more internal layers that reduce the speckle perceived by a viewer. A screen assembly has a light-source side and a viewing side. The assembly includes a screen layer to disperse light passing through the screen from the light source side and a matte surface disposed on the viewing side of the screen assembly to reduce ambient glare. A first speckle contrast reducing layer is disposed between the screen layer and the matte surface to reduce speckle formed at the matte surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 26, 2000
Date of Patent:
October 15, 2002
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Andrew J. Piepel, Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Patrick A. Thomas, Thomas R. Gehring
Abstract: An antireflection coating includes one or more inorganic antireflection layers (typically metal oxide or silica layers) and a polymer layer cured in situ, the polymer layer having a refractive index not greater than about 1.53 over the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm and a thickness of from about 20 to about 200 nm. The polymer layer provides good scratch and fingerprint protection, and also enables the thicknesses of the inorganic antireflection layers to be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the coating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 19, 1998
Date of Patent:
October 15, 2002
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Hyung-Chul Choi, Robert L. Jones, Pradnya V. Nagarkar, William K. Smyth, Xiaojia Z. Wang, Yee Ho Chia
Abstract: A spot light fiber (100) which comprises a core (101) which can transmit the light entered from an incident end towards an output end (102) and output the light from the output end, and a light leaking means (103) positioned along the peripheral direction on the external peripher face near the output end of the core; characterized in that the light leaking means is formed by using a light diffusive-transmissive light leaking film.
Abstract: A multilayer optical film comprising: (a) an optical stack comprising alternating layers of at least a first polymer and a second polymer; and (b) a holographic image.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 1999
Date of Patent:
October 1, 2002
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Laurence R. Gilbert, James M. Jonza, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Carl A. Stover, Michael F. Weber, William W. Merrill
Abstract: An optical sheet (25) for spreading light has a substantially smooth surface (27), and a structured surface (28) comprising an array of prisms (30, 31). A beam of light that is to be spread is directed through the film from the smooth surface. Some of the prisms (termed “refraction prisms”) deviate normally-incident light only by refraction at a prism facet as the light leaves the film while others (termed “reflection prisms”) deviates normally-incident light by total internal reflection within the prism before the light leaves the film. There are a plurality of reflection prisms (30) selected to deviate normally-incident light through different angles and a plurality of refraction prisms (31) selected to deviate the normally-incident light through different angles, and they are arranged, preferably in a non-ordered manner, so that successive reflection prisms are separated by at least one refraction prism.
Abstract: A lightguide includes an input edge surface, a back surface and an output surface. A reflector is directly secured to the back surface by, for example, adhesive bonding.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 8, 1999
Date of Patent:
September 10, 2002
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
David L. Wortman, Sanford Cobb, Kenneth A. Epstein, Mark E. Gardiner, Wade D. Kretman
Abstract: Naphthyloxyalkyl(meth)acrylate monomers having a high refractive index and whose respective homopolymer has a low glass transition temperature.
Abstract: Liquid dispensers comprising a reservoir including a plurality of elongated channels formed from overlaying layers of microstructured film having a dispensing edge, each elongated channel having an outlet at the dispensing edge, wherein liquid can be stored in the reservoir, and a transfer element in fluid communication with the dispensing edge of the reservoir that provides a location from which liquid stored in the reservoir can be controllably dispensed.